Understanding Mobility Aids

About 93% of people living in residential aged care facilities and half of Australians living with disability use mobility aids (ABS 2017).

Therefore, as a healthcare worker, you are likely to interact with clients using mobility aids. Do you know how to appropriately care for these people and ensure they stay safe?

What Are Mobility Aids?

Mobility aids help to improve the functional capacity of people who have difficulty ambulating through one or more of the following:

• Improving balance
• Improving walking pattern
• Increasing propulsion
• Reducing the load on lower limbs
• Transmitting sensory cues through the hands
• Facilitating upright posture
• Allowing the client to access to a variety of environments
• Signalling to other people that the person requires special considerations
• Improving overall safety during independent mobilisation.

(Musculoskeletal Key 2017; Physiopedia 2020)

Benefits of Mobility Aids

• Greater independence
• Ability to go about daily life
• Ability to participate in the community
• Greater quality of life
• Increased confidence and self-esteem
• Reduced pain and fatigue
• Social inclusion
• Improved end-of-life care
• Reduced falls risk
• Reduced risk of hospitalisation
• Shorter hospital stays.

(Better Health Channel 2019; Musculoskeletal Key 2017; CECOPS 2014; Leonard 2017; Independent Living Centre 2019)

Who Uses Mobility Aids?

Mobility aids can be helpful for any person with a mobility issue. This includes, but is not limited to:

• People with:
  • Arthritis
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Diabetic ulcers or wounds
  • Balance difficulties
  • Fractures or broken bones
  • Gout
  • Heart or lung issues
  • Leg, foot or back injuries
  • Sprains or strains
  • Brain injury or stroke
  • Visual impairment or blindness
• Older adults
• People who have had an amputation
• People who are recovering from surgery
• People with a high falls risk.

(Leonard 2017)

Mobility Aids Under the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards

Standard 4: The Environment - Outcome 4.1b: Environment and equipment in a service environment under the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards (Action 4.1.3b) requires that equipment used in care and services for older people be safe, clean, well-maintained and appropriate for their needs (ACQSC 2024a).

Additionally, Standard 5: Clinical Care - Outcome 5.4: Comprehensive care (Action 5.4.2) expects that aged care providers identify and provide any equipment, aids, devices and products required by an older person as part of comprehensive clinical assessments (ACQSC 2024b).

Outcome 5.5: Clinical Safety (Action 5.5.10) also requires older people with sensory impairment to be given access to and supported to use assistive devices and aids to improve their independence, function and quality of life (ACQSC 2024b).

Types of Mobility Aids

Mobility aids come in a variety of sizes and styles. The person’s abilities, needs, environment and body shape should always be taken into consideration when choosing a mobility aid (Independent Living Centre 2019).

Larger mobility aids are usually more stable but may decrease walking speed and make it more difficult to access certain environments (CEC 2016a).

Generally, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist will be responsible for prescribing a mobility aid (CEC 2016a). This will be based on an assessment of several factors, including:

• Gait
• Balance
• Cognition
• Physiological systems (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and neurological)
• Comorbidities
• Daily mobility requirements
• Whether the mobility aid is required short term or long term.

(Physiopedia 2020)

The following table lists some of the mobility aids you might encounter when caring for clients:

Crutches, Walking Sticks and Walking Frames

(Independent Living Centre 2019; National Multiple Sclerosis Society 2013; CEC 2016a, c)

Correctly Fitting Crutches, Walking Sticks and Walking Frames

Underarm Crutches

• The top axilla pad should be 5 cm under the armpit
• The base of the crutch should be 15 cm from the foot
• The client's elbows should be at a 15 to 30 degree bend
• The handgrip should be at the height of the wrist crease.

Forearm/elbow Crutches

• The client's elbows should be at a 15 to 30 degree bend
• The handgrip should be at the height of the wrist crease
• The forearm cuff height should be set by measuring from a clenched fist to 2.5 cm below the elbow crease.

Walking sticks/canes

• The client should stand upright with shoulders relaxed and arms by their sides
• The client's elbows should be at a 15 to 30 degree bend
• The handle should be at the height of the wrist crease
• The base of the stick should be 15 cm from the foot.

Walking frames (Three and four-wheeled, two-wheeled and static)

• The client should stand upright with shoulders relaxed and arms by their sides
• The client's elbows should be at a 15 to 30 degree bend
• The handle should be at the height of the wrist crease.

Forearm support frames

• The client's shoulders should be relaxed
• There should be a 90 degree bend at elbow
• The gutters of the frame should rest under the forearm.

(Independent Living Centre 2019; CEC 2016a, c)

Note: Fitting measurements may vary depending on your organisation. Always refer to your organisation's policies and procedures.

Wheelchairs and Scooters

(National Multiple Sclerosis Society 2013)

Caring for Clients who use Mobility Aids

The following are some practical tips for ensuring clients who use mobility aids are able to ambulate safely and effectively:

• Check client notes for any instructions about mobilisation.
• Ensure you know the client’s capacity (i.e. whether they can get out of bed on their own, how far they are able to walk, whether they need assistance).
• Always ensure the height and size of the aid are correctly adjusted to suit the client.
• Ensure any tripping hazards such as mats and power cords are cleared from walkways. There should be enough unobstructed space for the client to move around safely using their mobility aid.
• Ensure the client’s bed is a suitable height and the brakes are on.
• Ensure the client’s mobility aid is able to fit through walkways.
• Look out for wet or uneven flooring.
• Ensure the lockable brakes on the mobility aid are engaged properly.
• Check brakes, wheels and rubber tips regularly for damage (protruding or missing screws, split or loose hand grips, worn rubber tips etc.).
• Consider the weight and size of the mobility aid when transporting the client.
• Ensure the client’s footwear is well-fitting, flat and non-slip.
• Ensure the client never uses the mobility aid to pull themselves into a standing position.
• Consider administering pain relief (if required) around the time of mobilisation.
• Refer the client to a physiotherapist if required.

(Independent Living Centre 2019; CEC 2016b, 2017)

Conclusion

In order to ensure the clients in your care are able to ambulate safely, it is important that you understand and are familiar with the various mobility aids they might be using. This will help you to better understand their needs, be able to support them in a range of daily activities and tasks, and appropriately address any hazards or problems they might encounter while using their mobility aid.